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My hand ruffled Hadley’s head of curls. “What time are you supposed to be over there?”
Hadley looked to Emma for the answer.
“Oh my goodness, soon,” Emma said after a glance at her watch.
“I need to pack all my stuff!” Hadley cried out as she raced past us and up to her room.
I stared after her with a sigh. “Why does she feel so much older than what she actually is?”
Emma chuckled. “She does act more mature than the other kids her age. There’s no doubt about it.”
The doorbell rang, and Emma turned to get it. A few seconds later, I heard my parents’ voices before they stepped inside.
With a smile, I said, “Hey there. What are you guys doing here?”
My mother walked over and kissed me on the cheek. “I ran into Tammy at the store, and she said Hadley was staying the night there. Your father and I are going to salsa night at the community center. We thought you and Emma might like to come.”
“Me?” Emma asked, clearly taken by surprise.
“Yes! You deserve a night out,” my mother declared.
“Grams! Papa!” Hadley cried out as she raced into my parents’ arms, giving them each a kiss and hug.
The doorbell rang again, and Emma slipped away. This time, Tammy walked in and greeted my parents with hugs.
“Jennifer wanted to go to the pumpkin patch down the road from here, so I thought I’d pick Hadley up a bit early. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, sure,” I said as Hadley jumped around in excitement with Jennifer.
“Perfect. Emma, can I grab her booster seat from you?” Tammy asked.
Emma nodded. “Sure. Let me go get it. Hadley, did you pack your toothbrush?” The second the words were out, Emma jerked her gaze over to me and her cheeks turned a bright red. “Sorry. You’re home, so you can help her get ready.”
It pained me to think that Emma felt like she couldn’t assist Hadley if I was there…and I knew that was my fault.
“You’re fine. I’ll get the seat, and you go help Hadley get her things together.”
With a relieved smile that made my insides feel things they shouldn’t, she took Hadley’s hand and off they went to finish packing. As I made my way out to Emma’s car, my mind was a mess. I thought about her smile, about those frequent blushes, and all the feelings she stirred in me.
It had moved beyond lust, if it had ever been just that. I could no longer deny it. Was it because I hadn’t been with a woman in so long? Emma was beautiful, and any man in his right mind would desire her. But why were the feelings growing stronger and stronger?
I paused as I looked back at the house. With a shake of my head, I knew the strength of my feelings hadnothingto do with the fact that I hadn’t been with anyone in a while. It was just Emma. She was doing something to me, to every part of me. Not just the part that wanted her in my bed.
Closing my eyes, I sighed. What was I going to do? She was still my employee, and if things between us blew up, it wasn’t justmyfeelings on the line, but also my daughter’s.
When I opened my eyes again, I caught my father watching me from the front porch. As if knowing right where my thoughts were, he smiled.
“It’s okay to move on, son.”
I cleared my throat, grabbed the booster, and made my way back to the door. I hit him on the side of the arm as I passed and smiled.
“It’s all good, Dad. All good.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
EMMA - SALSA DANCING
I couldn’t wipethe smile off my face if I tried. Lance and Patty were the king and queen of salsa dancing, and Aiden groaned next to me as he watched his parents in action.
